Fender MIM 2000 Precision Bass E String weak muffled dampened dead

[guzzler]

I have a 2000 Made in Mexico P-Bass, sticker on the pickguard says it is a poplar body. I have put in a Basslines 1/4 pound pickup and Badass II Bridge.

The E string is weak, dead, lacking punch and clarity. I would say it doesn't sound like it is on the same bass. Sounds different than rest of the bass. For example comparing a Bb on the A string vs. Bb on the string. I realize they are 2 different strings and different sizes but the sound difference is much greater than other basses.

I noticed the E string deficiency before the Bridge and Pickup change.

I have tried changing strings, swapped out the pickup coil that picks up the E and A, pickups, adjusted pickup height.

I don't think it is a pickup problem. I think it is more with the bass itself but cannot figure it out.

I wondered about the body maybe not sounding good ? But maybe that would affect the bass as a whole and not so much on just one string?

The rest of the strings sound good.

I almost wondered if the E string appears to vibrate differently? I know it would have the least tension but it seems to move a lot before settling in?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[JLS]

How does this bass react, when you play it unplugged? I ask this because if you still perceive this problem, unamplified, you've just got a dead bass, especially considering that it's not alleviated by string changes.

MAYBE, converting the neck to threaded inserts & machine screws could help.

Have you lowered the pickup under the E string a lot, to make sure that it's not grabbing that string magnetically?

[Fender4Me]

Have you done anything to the nut? Alos, is the truss rod too tight? If you crank too tightly on the truss rod, it will affect the sound becasue it restricts the vibration in the neck, believe it or not.

[guzzler]

It is not obvious when played unplugged but maybe the problem is evident. Would a bass be dead just on the E string ?

I did try lowering the pickup also.

I see the neck pocket is not tight and not touching on the E side. But I see that often on Fender basses.

Were you wondering if I adjusted the nut ? Or saying I should do something to it ?

I don't think the truss rod nut is too tight. It is set with just a little relief.

[Fender4Me]

What diameter is the E string that you are using?

[Thundar]

Oh...its the story of my life....I have been in this boat soooo many times...In my case, I think its a case of twisted strings and bad break angle points, over and over...had to change the way I installed my strings:
The Great Dead E String phenomenon

[guzzler]

I have a .105 on it for E. 45-65-85-105

[Fender4Me]

Well, I dont think the strings are the issue. Just for grins, you might back off on the truss rod about 1/4 turn just to see if the sound improves. Im running out of ideas. Could be just a bad piece of neck wood.

[tangentmusic]

Is the E string sitting completly down in the nut groove?

[johnboy65]

Have you checked the pickup height?

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Fender4Me

Have you done anything to the nut? Alos, is the truss rod too tight? If you crank too tightly on the truss rod, it will affect the sound becasue it restricts the vibration in the neck, believe it or not.

This has been my experience, for several decades, now.

When I do a refret, I sandplane the fingerboard, with the neck in a string tension simulator, so that at pitch, the neck will have a *little* forward relief, with the trussrod nut just snugged down.

It works. Fairly soon, I'm going to get around to refretting my TL-5 w/Evo frets; this is a neck that has needed a lot of trussrod to keep it in line.
I'm looking forward to how it will sound & play, when I'm finished.

[guzzler]

E string appears to be all the way down in the nut.

I noticed when I play a down stroke lightly on the E string with the thumb (try to use the same intensity) it seems maybe still muffled but more output than how I normally would play by playing with index or middle finger.

There seems to be a lot more difference if I do that on the E string than if I do that on the A string.

[guzzler]

But even with the downward stroke with the thumb it still seems muffled or lacking. I guess if someone pointed out the nut, what about the bridge saddle ? It is a Badass II, and it is filed, but not too deep. other 3 strings sound good. The E sounds like it is from another instrument. I think sometimes the string vibration on the E looks different than the other 3 strings. I think the E has less tension than the other 3 but it seems different. Not sure if that has something to do with sound. A lot of sets are 45-100 and this set is 45-105 so it should be more tension than a 100 so I would think it would be less floppy.

[F-Clef-Jef]

I had the same problem on my Warmoth Jazz recently. What I found was that I didn't completely tighten the retaining nut on the E string tuner when I put the bass together. Tightened it up and brought the E string back to life.

[michaeln]

I think it's because of that sticker on the pickguard that says it has a poplar body. That sticker should be removed.

It was never intended to be on there for 11 years.